FG introduces special insurance package for Ebola volunteer workers.

ABUJA (Federal Ministry of Health Report) – The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute has noted that the Nigerian Government has provided a special insurance cover for the 250 Nigerian contingents, who are proceeding to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to assist these countries in their Ebola containment efforts.

Linus Awute made this known recently at the opening ceremony of a 2-day pre-departure training of the Nigerian contingents organized by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC,) NCDC, WHO, CMUL and LASUTH in Lagos.

In his speech delivered at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Project Director of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abdulsalami Nasisdi (Professor) pledged government’s commitment to catering for the welfare of the volunteers. He explained that the arrangement involves an insurance package to cover personnel accident and disability to the tune of 96, 016 US dollars, Medical expenses – 190,000 US dollars and 100,000 US dollar for insurance benefit to be paid to the beneficiary in case of death of a volunteer. 

He assured that government will provide what it takes for the  team to deliver their services with the highest standards possible; urging the team to corroborate government’s efforts by strictly adhering to the safety protocols and guidelines provided by the African Union. He also observed that as long as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and most recently Mali still harbour the Ebola Virus, all ECOWAS countries are at risk. Adding, Nigeria needs to assist them so that the West African coast can be free of Ebola. 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris (Dr) in his remarks reiterated that Nigeria is still not out of  the woods, but vulnerable to Ebola. According to him, the country needs to continue to scale up its structures because Ebola has been a test to its cultural sensitivity. He cautioned Nigerians against resting on their oars, but to build on the already established surveillance system and public enlightenment.